Chicago Foodie
See? It's not just me saying this, it's the Wall Street Journal:
In Chicago, Chef Trotter is the dean of a scene that surpasses New York's as a thrilling place to eat. Alinea, Tru, Blackbird, Nomi and others sprung out of a restaurant culture started by Charlie Trotter's.That's right: Chicago. Not New York, beeyatches, Chicago. Not Paris, biches, Chicago.
Charlie Trotter, the subject of the above article is my personal god. I've had five transformative restaurant experiences in my life: The Inn at Little Washington, Trotter's, Tru, Michel Rostang and Alinea. (Some that didn't work for me, despite the reps? Lucas Carton, Everest, Taillevent, Fearrington, Blackbird, Magnolia Grill.)
The Inn was lovely food but it was the service that amazed me. Then I hit Trotter. Paul on the road to Damascus. It was like that. I fell to my knees and prayed to Charlie.
It's Trotter's 20th anniversary. I wonder if he knows and likes Grant Achatz, the young chef at Alinea who has been so cruelly hit by cancer. In my mind the two of them are like Gauguin and Van Gogh, two creative wonders who overlap and connect.
This entry was posted by Michael Reynolds, on
Saturday, September 22, 2007.
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5:58 PM
Just got back from Chicago. Enjoyed a very nice three-course prix fixe at La Tache in Andersonville. It was not a five-star place, but the fig-glazed quail stuffed with cornbread and andouille was very good.
Chicago has absolutely everything. It is truly one of the best cities to dine in.
10:49 PM
Mike - I'm with you on Magnolia Grill; in fact, I don't think it's even the best restaurant in Durham! Yet it gets all the hype.
11:32 PM
Just Another:
What do you like in Durham?
In CH I actually like the Carolina Inn, although I think they may have changed chefs recently, so who knows.
11:34 PM
Jeff:
Where did you go, man? That sounds like Spiaggia maybe or MK.